On Sunday, two of Tablet Magazine’s teams faced each other, and the outcome was decisive: The New York Giants crushed the Washington Redskins, at home, 31-7. If anything, the game was even less close. Without their top two receivers, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, the Giants simply ran the hell out of the ball. The result was two touchdowns apiece for Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, as the Redskins—who should have been expecting run, and whose defensive injuries were mainly to the secondary—were simply powerless against the Giants’ aging but still effective offensive line and big, strong, cold-weather backs.

On the other side of the ball, the Skins showed that if bringing in Coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb was supposed to make the offense click, well, they might be prerequisites but they are not enough. Many will be quick to blame the Skins’ offensive line for the poor performance, and the line of the team that once boasted the mighty Hogs certainly had nothing to be proud of. However, I am more inclined to blame, secondarily, McNabb himself, and primarily the Skins’ truly lack-luster pass-catching corps.

On Sunday, two of Tablet Magazine’s teams faced each other, and the outcome was decisive: The New York Giants crushed the Washington Redskins, at home, 31-7. If anything, the game was even less close. Without their top two receivers, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, the Giants simply ran the hell out of the ball. The result was two touchdowns apiece for Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, as the Redskins—who should have been expecting run, and whose defensive injuries were mainly to the secondary—were simply powerless against the Giants’ aging but still effective offensive line and big, strong, cold-weather backs.

On the other side of the ball, the Skins showed that if bringing in Coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb was supposed to make the offense click, well, they might be prerequisites but they are not enough. Many will be quick to blame the Skins’ offensive line for the poor performance, and the line of the team that once boasted the mighty Hogs certainly had nothing to be proud of. However, I am more inclined to blame, secondarily, McNabb himself, and primarily the Skins’ truly lack-luster pass-catching corps.